Signs of Grace…
The signs accompanying grace are much joy, peace, love, and truth. Such signs impel us to seek truth. But the signs of sin are accompanied by turmoil, not joy and love toward God.
–Saint Macarius the Great (c. 300-391)
We feed on the food of life..
We feed as on the food of life, we constantly refresh our souls with his precious blood, as from a fountain. Yet we are always thirsting, burning to be satisfied. But he himself is present for those who thirst and in his goodness invites them to the feast day. Our Savior repeats his words: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” He quenched the thirst not only of those who came to him then. Whenever anyone seeks him he is freely admitted to the presence of the savior. The grace of the feast is not restricted to one occasion. Its rays of glory never set. It is always at hand to enlighten the mind of those who desire it.
–Saint Athanasius the Great (c. 296-373)
How to profit by…
Not one of this world’s blessings belongs to its owner securely enough to prevent time destroying it, or envy transferring it elsewhere…Let us profit by them in the only good way we can, that is, let us gain possession of our souls by giving alms, and share our earthly goods with the poor so as to enrich ourselves with the wealth of heaven.
–Saint Gregory Nazianzen (329-c. 391)
Oblivious of self…
It seems to me that the saints are souls completely oblivious of self, lost in Him Whom they love, with never a thought of self or of creatures, so that they are able to say with St. Paul: “I live, yet not I, but Jesus Christ lives in me.”
–Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)
The hidden ladder…
The ladder unto the Kingdom is hidden within you and within your soul. Dive into yourself, freed from sin; there you wilt find steps along which you can ascend.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
The more you pray…
The more you pray, the more you will be illumined; the more you are illumined, the more profoundly and intensely you will see the Supreme Good, the supremely good Being. The more profoundly and intensely you see him, the more you will love him; the more you love him, the more he will delight you. And the more he delights you, the more you will understand him and become capable of understanding him. You will arrive successively to the fullness of light, because you will understand that you cannot understand.
–Saint Angela of Foligno (1248-1309)
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